Army grunt disagrees with McChrystal's softly-softly strategy

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Subject: Army grunt disagrees with McChrystal's softly-softly strategy
Zhang Fei 6/21/2010 8:41:16 PM

From AP: "Rolling Stone" interviewed troops frustrated by McChrystal's strict rules for combat that are intended to reduce the number of civilian casualties. At one outpost, a soldier McChrystal had met earlier was killed in a house that the local U.S. commander had repeatedly asked to destroy. The request was denied, apparently out of concern that razing the house would anger locals whose allegiance the U.S. is trying to win. "Does that make any (expletive) sense?" Pfc. Jared Pautsch asks. "We should just drop a (expletive) bomb on this place. You sit and ask yourself, 'What are we doing here?'"

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Zhang Fei 6/22/2010 9:09:59 AM

More from Rolling Stone:

His commanders had repeatedly requested permission to tear down the house where Ingram was killed, noting that it was often used as a combat position by the Taliban. But due to McChrystal?s new restrictions to avoid upsetting civilians, the request had been denied. ?These were abandoned houses,? fumes Staff Sgt. Kennith Hicks. ?Nobody was coming back to live in them.?

"One soldier shows me the list of new regulations the platoon was given. ?Patrol only in areas that you are reasonably certain that you will not have to defend yourselves with lethal force,? the laminated card reads. For a soldier who has traveled halfway around the world to fight, that?s like telling a cop he should only patrol in areas where he knows he won?t have to make arrests. ?Does that make any ****ing sense?? Pfc. Jared Pautsch. ?We should just drop a ****ing bomb on this place. You sit and ask yourself: What are we doing here?"

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YelliChink 6/22/2010 11:23:41 AM

Wow, the news is so explosive that I can't believe it. I posted about a year ago and claimed that McChrystal is the worst possible theater commander you can put in place. He has a tendency to go to media in order to force superior to do things his way. His ROE is beyond ridiculousness. He doesn't work and can't work with DOS staff. Now he can't even control his loud mouth after probably a few beer. What he commented on Rolling Stone is unforgivable as a senior officer. I think Obama, given the nature of his character, is calling McChrystal back in order to fire him personally. That's not really a bad thing if the next commander of Afghan theater is competent to handle the mess left over by McChrystal.

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doggtag 6/22/2010 11:27:28 AM

Not really adding to this conversation,

but moreso asking:

does anyone suggest who would be the most ideal, competent General to replace Mickey next?

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Vulture 6/22/2010 12:50:48 PM

does anyone suggest who would be the most ideal, competent General to replace Mickey next?

Why not let Barry run it, he has a great background as a community organizer.

While facetious, the fact is Barack is the problem here, any general (except out of touch Jones) is going to be screwed by the CinC's "mission view" or whatever BS they are calling their lack of strategy.

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YelliChink 6/22/2010 3:14:09 PM

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ucmj2.htm

888. ART. 88. CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS

Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

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YelliChink 6/22/2010 4:59:44 PM

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128009955

Gen. James Mattis to take over?

Here are some examples of Gen. Mattis's speech:

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_Mattis

Sounds like the right man for the job.

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Mike From Brielle Excuse me but... 6/22/2010 7:22:17 PM

does anyone now think it would be wise to leave one trillion in mineral resources in the hands of the Taliban/ Al Qaeda (TAQ)?

Regardless of what happens to Gen McChrystal (Lefty set up of our own General - hadn't the Rolling Stone (a stone that seems to have a distinct tendency to roll left) have this information for a couple of months; why did they decide to vent it now?) Afghanistan is probably a nation now that the civilized world cannot afford to let slip back into the 12th century with 21st century delusions of empire.

I've heard that the majority of the most offensive utterances were not made by Mc Chrystall himself but by some bozo on his staff. Talk about bad staff work!!!!!

If the left now tries to suppose that this is the break that they need to force a coalition government settlement onto Afghanistan (or some other type of cut and run strategy) they better be preety sure about what they do because there is a great risk that the TAQ would take over (perhaps with the assistance of some elements of the ISI) in a coup, IMHO that would leave us more vulnerable than on September 10th, 2001 but now we'd know it.

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appleciderus 6/22/2010 7:38:05 PM

Until I am satisfied where the ROE originate I reserve judgment.

I am inclined to believe the ROE belong to the Administration. If so, frustration can loosen the lips of the strongest, and the General is not known for withholding his opinion.

Military people I have questioned seem to think the General called his wife right after the storm hit and told her to go ahead and sign the lease on that summer beach house because he had just put in his papers.

That is what I believe and I?m sticking to it until someone proves the ROE do not come from the White House or the State Department, but rather from the General.

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Photon 6/22/2010 8:37:48 PM

It looks like the 'red flag' consists of McChrystal publicly ridiculing senior officials. This is pretty bad -- even in civilian jobs where you can get into a lot of trouble if you let your mouth loose outside a conference room. I would be surprised if he is not sacked.

The sacking part is relatively easy, but now the harder part ...

Yet another media circus is on the roll, which will cause unnecessary distractions if it is allowed to spill out indiscriminately. Oh, well ... one of the joys of waging wars in the high-speed media era!

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Ashley-the-man 6/23/2010 3:28:43 AM

I was reading Tomas Ricks site and also saw his suggestion for General Mattis. He is near retirement and would have to be convinced to enter the fray that proved so tough for McCrystal.

Mattis does not have a special forces background, but Marines are a light force and in Iraq would patrol on foot. Gen. Mattis took command in Falugia just days before the Blackwater empolyees were executed. He and his superior General Conway opposed a heavy handed approach in Falugia but were not even consulted when the first battle in April 2004 took place.

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